Dubai launches Circle Dubai to achieve zero waste by 2041

Dubai unveils Circle Dubai, a landmark sustainability initiative aimed at achieving 100% diversion of waste from landfills by 2041. Announced during the 2025 Asia-Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum, the project marks a defining step in the emirate’s mission to become one of the cleanest and most sustainable cities in the world.

Launched under the slogan “Reduce...Reuse...Recycle...Together we make a difference,” Circle Dubai introduces a new era of waste management built on innovation, digital education, and community participation. The initiative supports the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2041, targeting complete landfill diversion with more than half of the city’s waste to be recycled.

The project outlines a long-term roadmap that goes beyond 2041, aiming to reshape how the city generates, sorts, and processes waste. It focuses on reducing waste at the source, achieving 100% source segregation, and modernising collection and transport systems. Enhanced recycling methods and energy conversion technologies are expected to significantly cut landfill dependency and boost resource recovery.

Circle Dubai covers nine major sectors — including residential, commercial, industrial, tourism, and education — ensuring sustainability reaches every layer of city life. The programme is backed by 17 strategic projects and 26 performance indicators developed in collaboration with partners from the private sector, academia, and tourism.

A key feature of the initiative is an advanced digital education platform designed to make sustainability learning accessible and interactive. The platform provides tailored content for each sector, helping residents and businesses understand the value of waste reduction and sustainable living.

Complementing this, the Dubai Sustainability Ambassadors programme will empower residents to lead community engagement campaigns, champion zero-waste habits, and inspire change within their neighbourhoods.

With Circle Dubai, the Municipality aims not only to eliminate landfill waste but also to foster a culture where sustainability becomes second nature. By combining smart technologies, public awareness, and collective action, Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a global model for green urban living — and a city firmly committed to a waste-free future.